Hat



Aug. 20, 1929. A. sTElNGoLD 1,725,425

HAT

Filed Jan. 3, 1929 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES ABRAHAM STEINGOLD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

HAT.

Application led January 3, 1929.

This invention Vrelates to hats which are adjustable to different head sizes. Important objects of the invention are, to provide an entirely satisfactory commercial form of adjustable hat; to provide a hat of this character of simple, durable structure and attractive appearance; and to provide a hat particularly well suited for ohildrens wear.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the hat;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 an enlarged detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 a detail view of the belt forming the contracting means of the hat; and

Fig. 5 a detail section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

In the present case I have embodied my invention in a childs hat. It is well suited, however, for embodiment in various forms of hats designed for adult wear.

The present hat includes a crown 1 and brim 2, both formed of fabric, felt or other suitable material. A particularly good material for childrens wear is a sturdy fabric, stitched as indicated at 3. The crown is formed of a central gore 4 extending the full length thereof and two side gores 5 stitched to the central gore. Reinforcing strips 6 are stitched along the gore seams, within the crown. The central gore 4 is adapted to be longitudinally creased and is provided with snap fastening elements 7 to maintain the crease. The brim 2 is formed in one piece and is of the snap form. That is, it may be adjusted to a turned-down position, as shown in Fig. 1, partly turned down, or turned up as shown in Fig. 2.

The crown and brim are not directly connected together in the usual manner. Instead, the crown is made of materially less height than is customary and is joined to the brim by an intermediate structure which forms the base of the crown and includes the adjusting means for varying the size of the hat. This intermediate structure comprises a sweatband 8 and an outer band 9. The sweatband is preferably made of freely flexible fabric but may be made of any suitable material. It is in the form of a strip of material width extending entirely around the interior of the hat, with its ends overlapped and secured together and its longi- Serial No. 330,046.

tudinal edges turned under. The outer bandv 9 extends entirely around the exterior of the hat and has its ends stitched together. It is preferably made of fine fabric to form an attractive trimming for the hat, is of substantially the same width as the sweatband 8 and directly surrounds the latter. Between the upper edge margins of the opposed bands 8 and 9 the lower edge of the crown is inserted for a short distance and firmly secured to both bands by close stitching 10. The latter extends entirely around the hat. Between the lower edge margins of the opposed bands 8 and 9 the inner edge of the brim 2 is inserted for a short distance and firmly secured by a row of close stitching 11 extending through the outer band 9 and the brim. The inner band 8 is rmly secured to the brim and to the outer band 9 by a row of close stitching 12. The stitchjng 11 and 12 extends entirely around the iat.

The entire rear face of the outer band 9 is covered with a layer 13 of suitable stiffening fabric which renders the band materially less flexible than the inner band. rIlhe upper and lower edges of band 9 are folded about the edges of the stiffening material and the latter is held in place by two rows of stitching 14 near its upper and lower edges. The base of the crown formed by the band 8 and the stiifened band 9 possesses as much body and stiffness as the upper portion 1 of the crown. In Figs. 2 and 5 the stitl'ening 13 has been omitted to simplify the showing.

The opposed vertically spaced edges of the crown and brim and the opposed inner and outer bands 8 and 9 form a flat, flexible tube which forms the base of the crown. The flat. space within said tube extends entirely around the hat and is of material width. At the left side of the hat the outer band 9 is provided with two eyelets 15 formed of metal or other rigid material. These eyelets are spaced a relatively short distance apart along the band 9 and dene vertically elongated openings communicating with the interior space of the tube. The height of these openings is materially less than that of the tube space, for a reason which will present-ly appear.

Disposed within the tubular space at the base of the crown is a freely flexible belt 16 of leather or other suitable material. For the major portion of its length the belt 16 is nearly as wide as the space within the tube7 while its ends are materially reduced in width. It is trained aroundy through the tube and its reduced ends are .trained outwardly through the eyelets l5. One end of the belt is provided with a buckle or clasp 17. The other end is adapted to be trained through said clasp and gripped thereby to hold the belt in different contracted adjustments. If the clasped end extends sufficiently beyond the clasp it may be trained through one of the eyelets, as indicated in Fig. 5.

To -adjust thehat to ditl'erent head sizes the clasp 17 is released and the belt is centracted or expanded as required. Contraction of the belt causes contraction of the tubular structure forming the base of the crown and adjusts the latter to fit the head. The inner band S is much more flexible than the remaining parts including the upper crown portionV l, the brim 2 and the outer, stiffened band 9. Consequently for a given contract-ion ofthe belt, the band 8 will bel contracted more than said remaining parts. Even a decided contraction of the belt causes no noticeable distortion of the exterior of the hat. The latter, therefore, has a wide range of adjustments without any objectionable results.v

The contracting belt is thoroughly protected from tampering or removal from its operative position. The entire length of its wider portion is entirely confined and concealedl within the tube; the seams of the latter are securely stitched, and t-he eyelets l5 are only large enough to permit the free passage of the reduced ends of the belt. Consequently the belt is positively held against withdrawal from the tube. This protection of the belt is a particularly goed feature in the Acase of a childs hat where there is a strong temptation to tamper with the belt. The material width of the belt and its enclosing tube is also a goed feature as it `provides a' liberal head-iitting area and better distributes the pressure upon the head. The belt also stii'ens the base of the crown and gives it a trim appearance.' y

Embodiment ofmy improved adjustment feature in a hat does not in the least mar the appearance thereof either by additional structure or by distortion of the hat body. In fact the eyelets, the exposed belt ends and their clasp occupy the position of the bow in a standard hat and'form an attractive trimming. The hat is designed throughout to re-nderit thoroughly satisfactory and commercially desirable. The thoroughly practical adjustment feature relieves a merchant of the necessity of carrying. an excessive number ofk hatsofdilferent head sizes.

IVhile I have shown -a most desirable embodiment of my invention I do not wishto be strictly limited to this disclosure but reservethe right to make such changes in design andl application as will lie within the scope of the claims. For example vthe invention is well suited for various forms of headgear for men, women and children.

vWhat I claim is:

l. An adjustable hat comprising a freely llexible sweatband; a less flexible outer' band of substantially the same width as the sweatband; a crown having its lower edge disposed between the upper marginal edges of said two bands; close stitching extending entirely around the crown and securing it to the bands; a brirn having its inner edge disposed between the lower marginal edges of the said two bands; close stitching securing together the bands and the brim entirely around the hat, the bands and the interposed edges of the crown and brim defining a flexible, flat tube of material width extending entirely around the hat at the base of the crown; a pair of vertically elongated, rigid eyelets. in the outer band circumferentially spaced a relatively short distance apart at one side of the hat and opening into said tube; a flat belt of material width trained through the tube and' provided with ends reduced in widthv and trained outwardly through said eyelets, the latter being smaller than the wider portion of the belt to prevent withdrawal thereof; and a clasp carried by one end of the belt to engage the other end and hold the belt and hat in different contracted adjustments.

2. An adjustable hat comprising a sweatband; an4 outer band of substantially the same width as the sweat-band; a crown. having its lower edge disposed between the upper marginal edges ofsaid two bands; close stitching extending entirely around the crownand securing it to thebands; a brim having its inner edge disposed between the lower marginal edges of said bands; close stitching' securing together the bands and the brim entirely around the hat, the bands and the interposed edges of the crown and brim defining a flexible, flat tube of material width extending entirely around the hat at the base of the crown; a pair of vertically elongated, rigid eyelets in the outer band circumferentially spaced a relatively short distance` apart at one side of the hat and opening into said tube; ay flat belt of material width trained through the tube. and provided with ends reduced in width and trained outwardly through said eyelets, the latter being smaller than the wider portion of the belt to prevent withdrawal thereof; and a clasp carriedby one end of the belt to engagethe other end and hold the belt and hat in different contracted adjustments. 3. Any adjustable hat comprising a sweatband; an outer band; acrown having its lower edge disposed between the upper marginal edges of'said bands; stitching extending entirely around the crown and securing it-'to the bands; Va brim having its inner edge disposed between the lower marginal edges of the bands; stitching securing together the bands and the brim entirely around the hat, the bands and the interposed edges of the crown and brim defining a flexible, flat tube of material width extending entirely around the hat at the base of the crown; a pair of rigid eyelets in the outer band circumferentially spaced a relatively short distance apart and opening into said tube; a belt of material width trained through the tube and provided with ends reduced in width and trained outwardly through said eyelets, the latter being smaller than the wider portion of the belt to prevent the withdrawal thereof; and fastening means to adjustably hold together the belt ends outside of the hat and hold the belt and hat in different contracted adjustments,

4. An adjustable hat comprising a freely flexible sweatband; a less flexible outer band of substantially the same width as the sweatband; a crown having its lower edge disposed between the upper marginal edges of said bands; close stitching extending entirely around the crown and securing it to the bands; a brim having its inner edge disposed between the lower marginal edges of the bands; close stitching securing together the bands and the brim entirely around the hat, the bands and the interposed edges of the crown and brim defining a flexible, flat tube of material width extending entirely around the hat at the base of the crown; a pair of openings in the outer band circumferentially spaced a. relatively short distance apart and opening into saidtube; a fiat belt of material width trained through the tube and outwardly through said openings; and fastening means to adjustably hold together the belt ends outside of the hat and hold the belt and hat in different contracted adjustments.

5. A headgear comprising a crown;

; means forming a flat, flexible tube secured to and extending around the lower portion of said crown and having a pair of restricted outlets spaced apart a relatively short distance along said tube; a fiat belt trained through the tube, around the hat, and provided wit-h ends reduced in vWidth and trained outwardly through said outlets, the latter being smaller than the larger portion of the belt and preventing the withdrawal thereof from the tube; and fastening means to adjustably fasten together the belt ends and hold the belt and hat in different contracted adjustments.

6. A headgear comprising a crown; means forming a flat, flexible tube secured to and extending around the base of the crown; a pair of rigid eyelets mounted in the Outer wall of the tube and spaced apart a relatively short distance along it; a flat belt trained through the tube around the hat, and provided with ends reduced in width and trained outwardly through said eyelets, the latter being smaller than the larger portion of the belt and preventing the withdrawal thereof from the tube; and fastening means to adjustably fasten together the belt ends at the exterior of the hat and hold the hat and belt in different contracted adjustments.

7. An adjustable hat comprising a freely flexible sweatband; a less fiexible outer band of substantially the same width as the sweatband; a crown ha`ving its lower edge disposed between the upper marginal edges of said two bands; close stitching extending entirely around the crown and securing it to the bands; a brim having its inner edge disposed between the lower marginal edges of said bands; close stitching securing together the bands and the brim entirely around the hat,the bands and the interposed edges of the crown and brim defining a flexible, flat tube of material width extending entirely around the hat at the base of the crown; a belt trained through the tube and emerging outwardly through said outer band at one point; and means at the exterior of the hat to hold the belt and hat in different contracted adjust-ments.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ABRAHAM STEINGOLD. 

